Gum massaging device



Dec. 31, 1940. J. sALlT GUM MASSAGlNG DEVICE Filed Jan. 16, r19259` Patented Dec. 31, 1940 N UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 19 Claims.

This invention relates to massaging devices and particularly to an improved gum massaging device, an object being to provide a construction wherein both sides of the gums may be massaged 6 at the same time.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electrically actuated massaging device which may be readily adjusted by hand to cause the massaging heads to fit any thickness of gum of a person when in functioning position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gum massaging device which is actuated by a1- ternating current and which is provided with means for automatically causing the device to function when moved to a functioning position in the mouth. v

An additional object, more specifically, is to provide an electrically actuated massaging device for gums wherein means are provided for varying the space between the massaging heads whil the machine is in operation.

In the accompanying drawing- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a gum massaging device disclosing an embodiment of the invention, 25 an electric cord being shown plugged in functioning position;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view on an enlarged scale of the device shown in Fig.` 1 with the upper part of the casing removed;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through Fig. 2 approximately on the line 3 3;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through Fig. 3 on the line 4 4;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view through Fig. 3 on the 35 line 5 5;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view through Fig. 3 on the line 6 6;

Fig. 7 is a detail fragmentary sectional view through Fig. 2 approximately on the line 1 1;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the detail mounting of one of the pivot members;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through Fig. 2 approximately on the line 9 9;

Fig. 10 is an elevation with certain parts in section, showing the means for transmitting motion from the vibrating armature to the solid heads, the same being a modified construction to that illustrated in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 11 is a side view of the structure shown in Fig. 10 looking at the same from the right, certain parts being broken away for better illustrating the construction. g

Referring to the accompanying drawing by numerals, I indicates a casing which is divided into two parts, namely, in what may be termed a top` or cap 2 and a bottom 3. These members at the front are provided with arc-shaped cutaway portions 4 and 5 for accommodating the respective. 5 rock shafts 6 and 1. At the opposite end the casing is provided with an opening 8 (Fig. 3) in which the respective terminals 3 and I0 are positioned, said terminals being carried by a plate II preferably of insulating material. The 4lead- 10 in wires I 2 and I3 are secured to the inner ends of the terminals 9 and Il), as shown in Fig. 2, and these Wires lead to the various parts hereinafter fully described. l

Referring to the rock shafts 6 and 1, it will be 15 observed that they extend almost through the casing I `and at the rear orright hand end, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, press against a metal plate I4 (Fig. 7). A cotter pin I5 (Fig. 6) extends through each of the rock shafts to pre- 2o vent forward movement while the metal plate I4 prevents any rearward movement. The forward ends o-f therock shafts are bent at I6 and I'I so as tobe more or less arc-shaped, as illustrated particularly in Figs. 1, 4 and 5. As illustrated 25 in Fig. 9, each of the arc-shaped ends I6 and I'I is provided with a reduced extension I8 and over this extension the shank I 9 of the massaging head or applicator is fitted; The massaging head 20 may be of any suitable material, as for -30 instance rubber vulcanized to a desired hardness. The shank I9 is secured to the reduced extension I8 by a suitable screw 2|. A covering consisting of a rubber tube 22 is provided for each of the rock shafts 6 and 1, said covering extend- 35 ing from `a position overlapping vthe shank I9 to a position within the casing I, as shown in Fig. 2. The rock shafts 6 and 1 are identical in construction except thatthey are made right and left, and in use normally lie open, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.` These rock shafts may be rocked so that the respective heads 2D may move toward each other even to a point where they will contact. By this arrangement the heads 20 may straddle the gum whether it is large or small. After the device has been placed in position in the mouth so `that the heads 20 Will straddle the gum, member 23 is pushed inwardly toward the casing I and immediately the massaging heads will move toward each other and the vibration will take place whereby the heads 20 will tap or pummel the gums and thereby produce a massaging action. During the `functioning of the heads 20, the device may be moved along the gums back and forth and also up and down `so that all parts of the gums may be treated. As the heads are preferably formed of rather firm vulcanized rubber, the gums will not be injured but may be properly exercised and in case the heads should strike any of the teeth there will be no injury thereto.

In order to secure a proper vibration there is provided an armature 24. This armature is formed with a pair of ears 25 straddling the end 26 (Fig. 1) of a eld magnet 21. It will be noted that the eld magnet 21 is provided with ends 26 and 28 (Fig. 1) and also a central post 29 around which the coil 30 is fitted. When coil 3G is energized by alternating current from wires l2 and |3, it will quickly attract the armature 24 and then release the same whereupon a vibratory action is secured. This action is transmittedy through the pvot bars 3| and 32y which are integral with or rigidly secured to the free end of the armature 24. The pivot bars 3| and 32 coact with the link bars 33 and 34 (Fig. 4) for raising and lowering these bars. These link bars, adjacent the top and adjacent the bottom, are each provided with a cone-shaped depression 35 as shown in Fig. 8 so that any` of the journal members, as for instance the end of bar 3|, may nt therein. It will be noted that the respective ends of the pivot pins 3| and 32 are tapering so that there may be a certain relative swinging movement between the links 33 and 34 and the pivot pins 3| and 32 and also between the links and the rocking arms 36 and 31. These arms are preferably welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the rock shafts 6 and 1 at their highest-point. From Fig. 4 it will be observed that each link is provided with an indented section 38 and a tension bolt 35i extends through these indentedv sections so` that a spring 40 may act on the nut 4| andl on one of the indented portions 38 to 4.0 provide a desired tension between these parts so as to hold the links in proper functioning position and to adjust their tension in respect to arms 36 and 31 and the pivot bars 3| and 32.

By reason of the above outlined construction,

whenever the armature 24 moves up and down Screw 42 is journalled in a post 44 rigidly secured the screw 43.

'is pivotally mounted.

by a screw or otherwise to a metal base 45 secured in the bottom 3 by screws 46 or by other 'suitable means. A similar post 44 is arranged on the oppostie side, as shown in Fig. 6 and carries A journal member 41 (Fig. 6) extendsthrough the end post 26 and through the ears 25 of the armature 24 for swingably mounting the magnet and also the armature. A wearing plate 49, preferably of hardened steel, is arranged against the end post 26 and is heldin place bythe screws 52 and 53 carried by the depending end 54 of armature 24. Member 41 is provided with an enlarged end l5t, as shown in Fig. 6, which has a threaded recess receiving the threaded end of screw 32. An internally threaded spacing sleeve 5| receives theV threaded end of screw 43 and also the threaded end of the journal member 41. In this way the field magnet 21 In order to adjust the positionof the armature 24 in respect to the end post 26 and also the end post 28, adjusting screws 62 and 53 have been provided. These pass through the depending end 54 of armature 24 and press against the wearing plate 49. After to the magnet, the screws 52 and 5S will keep the armature firmly in position during the functioning of the device. Preferably the armature 24 is made from somewhat resilient material and, of course, is magnetic so as to be attracted when the field magnet 21 is energized. As the device is designed to use alternating current, whenever current is turned on to the coil 36 the armature 24 will be attracted and released rapidly so as to give intermittent downward pushes against the outer ends of arms 36 and 31 and provide a desired vibration of the massaging heads 22.

, The resilient action of the armature will quickly return the armature to the position shown in Fig. 3 when the magnet, made up of the eld piece 21, posts 29, end posts 26 and 23 and coil 36, is deenergized. When the magnet is energized the armature 24 will move from the position shown in Fig. 3 downwardly a short distance and then be released so that it will quickly move upwardly. Ifv the current used is sixty cycles the movement will be at this rate. Over the front end post 28 of the magnet there is provided a U-shaped cover plate 55 of metal which is secured in place by a suitable bolt 56 extending entirely through post 28. A bracket 51 is formed either integral with or rigidly secured to the plate 55, and one end of a contractile spring 58 is looped thereover. The other end of spring 58 is looped over a hook 59 which may be secured to the base 45 or screwed directly into the bottom 3, as preferred.

The member or button 23 is provided with a shaft or pin 23' which slidingly extends through suitable openings in the bottom v3 and base 45 so that when the button is moved pin 23 will push and swing the field piece 21 (Fig. 1) and associated parts until the heads 26 contact or come as near together as desired. An abutment,

as for instance a cotter pin 66, extends through in 23 to limit its downward or outward movement.

A block of insulation 6| is connected with the post 2B by a screw or bolt 56 (Fig. 2) and this carries an electric switch composed principally of two members, namely, plate 66 and spring member 62 which has a loop 63 as shown in Fig. 3. The loop 63 terminates in a contact end 64 that is adapted to press against the upturned contact end S5 of plate 66 which is arranged on the opposite side of the block 6| to the plate or member 62. These two members are held in place by the respective screws 61 and 63. An abutment 69 of Bakelite, fiber, or other insulating material, has a portion embedded in the base 45 and a portion extending upwardly therefrom. The abutment 69 is positioned, as shown in Fig. 3, so that when the electric magnet and associated parts move toward base 45 under the action of the spring 58, the contact end 64 of spring member 62 will be caused to leave the contact 65, or rather the contact 65 will move away from contact 64 and thereby break the circuit at this point. It is to be noted that the lead-in wire 'l2 leads to one terminal of the coil 36 and the lead-in wire I3 leads to the contact plate 66. An auxiliary wire |2 leads from the outlet end of coil 3|) to the Contact plate 62. It will, therefore, be seen that when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3, no current will flow even though the terminals 9 and I6 are connected to a suitable source of electrical supply, which must be alternating current. However, if the button or member 23 is pushed inwardly sufliciently t0 move the magnet and cause the contact 65 to engage contact 64, current will flow and immediately the armature 24 will vibrate and move the links 33 and 34 back and forth and cause a rocking motion to take place in the rock shafts 6 and 1. This will cause the heads 20 to move toward and from each other very rapidly though only a short distance.

When the device is in use, the casing is grasped by the hand and the heads 20 are placed in the mouth so as to straddle the gum, but during the placing of the device in the mouth and locating it at the desired point the finger of the operator does not push the member 23, but as soon as the device has been properly located in respect to the gum the member 23 is forced inwardly and the device will begin to function. The member 23 is forced inwardly until the heads 20 come in contact with the gums, whether the gums are thick or thin. Also by varying the pressure on the member 23 the pressure of the heads 20 against the gum will be varied though the vibration will be the same.

In Figs. 10 and 11 a slightly modified construction is shown wherein the link arrangement illustrated in Fig. 4 is modified. From Fig. l1 it will be seen that the combined members 10 and 1| equal the single link 33 shown in Fig. 4. The member 1| is provided with pressed portions similar to the portions 35 1(Fig. 8) while the member 10 is provided with grooves 12 and 13, whereby the respective ends of the respective double pointed pins 14 and 15 may be properly pivotally mounted and a slight swinging and sliding movement allowed between these members and the member 10. It will be understood that the double pointed pins 14 are carried by the enlarged end 1B depending from the bar 3|. The double pointed pin 15 is carried by the arm 36 (Fig. 10). A spring tension bolt 11 similar to bolt 39 is used for holding the members 10 and 1| in functioning position. The structure shown in Fig. 1l is to take the place of the bar 33, while a similar structure is provided to take the place of the bar 34 in this form of the invention. It will be understood that when the bars 33 and 34 are used the structure shown in Figs. 10 and 11 is of course not used. The structure shown in Figs. 10 and 11 may be substituted for the structure shown in Fig. 4 without changing any of the other parts except the arms 36 and 31 and the pivotal bars 3| and 32 as these members must conform to the structure shown in Fig. 11 to operate with the members 10 and 1|. The casing I may be Bakelite or other suitable material and'preferably is made in two parts, namely, the top 2 and the bottom 3. Base 45 is preferably of metal and is rigidly secured by screws to bottom 3 and carries all of the moving parts of the device. Suitable screws 18 are preferably used for securing the top 2 to the bottom 3. These screws extend through the bottom 3 upwardly into the thickened portions of the top 2, whereby the top is normally rigidly held in place but may be re- `moved at any time when access to the interior is desired.

I claim:

1. A massaging device comprising a handle, a pair of shafts extending from said handle, each of said shafts having an outer end provided with a massaging head, electrically actuated means carried by said handle for vibrating said heads, and manually actuated means for turning on said electrically actuated means, said mauuauy actuated means also moving said heads toward each other.

2. A massaging device including a handle, a pair of shafts, a massaging headcarried by each of said shafts, and means for rocking said shafts on their longitudinal axes for causing said heads to function.

3. A massaging device including a handle, a pair of shafts, a massaging head carried by each of said shafts, means for rocking said shafts on their longitudinal axes for causing said heads to function, and electrically actuated means for causing said heads to vibrate.

4. A massaging device including a handle, a pair of members carrying massaging heads at their outer ends, electrically actuated means for causing said heads to vibrate and means for moving said heads toward and from each other while they are being vibrated without changing the length of vibration.

5. A massaging device including a handle, a pair of shafts extending therefrom, a massaging applicator carried by each of said shafts at the outer ends thereof and means including a manually operated sliding member for mechanically actuating said shafts for varying the distance between said applicators.

6. A massaging device including a handle, a pair of shafts extending therefrom, a massaging applicator carried by each of said shafts at the outer ends thereof, and means including a manually operated sliding member for mechanically actuating said shafts for varying the distance between said applicators and electrically operated means for vibrating said applicators.

'1. A massaging device including a handle, a pair of members movable toward and from each other, a massaging head carried by each of said members, a spring tending to move said heads from each other, hand-actuated means for moving said heads toward each other, and electrically actuated means for causing said heads to vibrate as they are moved by said spring and the hand-actuated means.

8. A massaging device including a pair of shafts, a massaging head carried by each of said shafts at the end thereof, swinging electrically actuated means for causing said heads to vibrate, means for moving said heads toward and from the plane in which said swinging electrically actuated means functions, and a handle carrying Vsaid shafts. 9. 'A massaging deviceincluding a pair of facing massaging heads, a shaft carrying each of said heads, an arm connected with each of said shafts, a link connected to each of said arms, an armature connected to said links, and an alternating current actuated magnet for causing said armature to vibrate.

l0. A massaging device including a handle, a pair of shafts carried by said handle, a massaging head at the end of each of said shafts farthest from said handle, electrically actuated means for vibrating said shafts so that they will rock on their longitudinal axes, spring-actuated means for moving said shafts to separate said heads, and manually actuated means for moving said shafts for causing said heads to approach each other.

11. A 'massaging device including a pair of facing massaging heads, a shaft carrying each of said heads, a vibrating engine, and means including a pair of articulate links for connecting the engine with the shafts so that vibration from the engine will be transmitted to the shafts and will cause' them to rock on their longitudinal axes.

12. A massaging device including a handle, a pair of shafts, a massaging applicator carried by each of said shafts and means for moving said applicators toward and from a plane passing `centrally through said handle and between said shafts, the forward end of each of said shafts having a portion extending outwardly from said plane and a secondary portion extending from the first-mentioned portion at an angle thereto, the said portions of both of said shafts presenting generally a U-shaped structure.

13. A massaging device including a handle, a pair of shafts, a massaging applicator carried by each of said shafts, means for moving said applicators toward and from a plane passing centrally through said handle and between said shafts, the forward end of each of said shafts having a portion extending outwardly from said plane and a secondary portion extending from the first-mentioned portion at an angle thereto, the said portions of both of said shafts presenting generally a U-shapecl structure, andelectrically actuated means for causing said applicators to vibrate.

14. A massaging device including a pair of facing massaging heads, shafts for moving said heads toward and from each other, a spring acting to move the shafts so that they will actuate said heads, a hand-actuated member for mov ing the shafts so that said heads will move toward each other, means for vibrating said heads, said means including a vibrating electric engine and a plurality of articulated members for connecting said engine with said shafts.

15. A massaging device comprising a pair f shafts having spaced ends, an arm rigidly secured to each of said shafts extending laterally from the shafts and a massaging head arranged on each of said ends, electrically actuated means for causing said ends to move toward and from eachaother at a high rate of speed, spring actuated means for swinging said arms simultaneously causing said shafts to be rocked on their longitudinal axes for moving said heads apart, and manually actuated means for moving said heads toward each other against the action of said spring means.

16. A massaging device including a pair of massaging heads, manually actuated means for moving said heads to and from each other, and means for vibrating said heads, said last mentioned means including an alternating current magnet, a resilient armature adapted to be moved in one direction by the magnet and adapted to move itself by reason of its resiliency in the opposite direction, articulated means for connecting the free end of said armature with the means for moving said heads toward and from each other so as to give a vibratory action to said heads, and manually actuated means for opening the circuit of said magnet.

17. A massaging device including a pair of facing massaging heads, a rock shaft for each of said heads for causing the heads to move toward and from each other, and means for causing said rock shafts to vibrate, said means including an alternating current magnet, means for pivotally mounting said magnet, an armature pivotally mounted on the magnet, a pair of set screws for adjusting the position of the armature in respect to the magnet, a circuit for said magnet including a switch, and manually actuated means for simultaneously moving said switch to an open position and for rocking said rock shafts to move said heads toward each other. A

18.V A massaging device including a pair of facing massaging heads, a rock shaft for each of said heads, an arm rigidly secured to each of said rock shafts, a double-ended pivot pin carried by each of said arms, a resilient armature, a doubleended pin carried by the-free end of said armature for each of said arms, a link structure for connecting the pivot pins of the arms with the pivotpins of the armature, said link structure including a pair of bars having depressions for receiving the combined ends ofthe respective pivot pins, a spring actuated bolt for holding the bars in functioning position and an alternating current magnet for actuating said armature.

19. A massaging device including a pair of facing massaging heads, a pair of rock shafts `secured to the respective heads, an arm rigidly secured to each of said rock shafts, said arms having tapering outer ends, a resilient armature, a pair of pivotal arms having tapered outer ends carried by the other end of said armature, a link for each of said arms, each of said links having a pair of depressions, one 4depression receiving the tapered end of an arm and the other depression receiving the tapered end of a pivotal bar, resilient means for holding said links in functioning position, an alternating current magnet coacting with said armature for causing the armature to function and lead-in Wires for said magnet, said lead-in wires including a switch.

J ONAH SALIT. 

